Toilet seat guide

ABSTRACT

A position guide means for a toilet seat, preventing objectionable wobbling of the toilet seat even though the hinge may be rather loose, as is the case with many toilet seats.

I United States Patent [151 McCaWIey Mar. 7, 1972 [54] TOILET SEAT GUIDE 964,533 7/1910 McDonald.... l...4/237 1041,181 10/1912 Sharp Jr ..4/98 [72] Inventor: Joseph F. McCawley 1101 North Drexel Avenue Indianapolis: Ind. 46201 2,379,400 6/1945 Hoffman ..4/237 [22] Filed: Man 16, 1970 FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS N I; 219,509 2/1962 Austria ..4/237 moos 287,680 3/1928 Great Britain... ....4/2s7 995,625 8/1951 France ....4/237 [52] US. (I 4/237 615,327 1/1961 Italy ....4/237 [51] Int. Cl. ..A47k 113/00, A47k 13/04 262,760 10/ 1949 Switzerland ..4/237 [58] Fleld ofSearch ..4/234, 237

Primary Examiner-Samuel B. Rothberg [56] References Cited Assistant Examiner-D. Massenberg Attorney-Robert A. Spray UNITED STATES PATENTS Re 20 6 9 6 4/1938 Sperzel ..4/254 [571 ABSTRACT 1,442,270 V1923 Hedberg "4/237 A position guide means for a toilet seat, preventing objec- 1,041,342 10/1912 "4/237 tionable wobbling of the toilet seat even though the hinge may 217,163 7/1879 smlth 4/237 be rather loose, as is the case with many toilet seats. 768,708 8/1904 Thompson.. .4/237 936,714 10/1909 Gunton ..4/237 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED 7 J. E McCnwury INVEMTOR.

A TTORNEY TOILET SEAT GUIDE This invention relates to a seat-positioning guide or locator for a toilet seat; and concepts of the invention provide a seat guide which holds a toilet seat against sliding out of place; and yet, although it firmly engages the toilet bowl itself to rigidly attain the seabholding function, it nevertheless readily accommodates movement of the toilet seat into and between seatraised and seat-lowered position.

The concepts of the invention further provide that the guide means is not only easy to install but is installed with scarcely any messiness or disagreeableness as might be supposed as would be due to the fact that the object being worked upon is in fact a toilet.

Moreover, the concepts provide a seat-position guide which is so inconspicuous as to be effectively unnoticeable.

The concepts of the invention further provide that the guide means is effectively indestructible and of effectively infinite life, requiring no servicing, no moving parts, and effectively no wear whatever, even though it effectively accommodates the continual and infinitely repeated movement of a toilet seat in household use.

The inventive concepts provide the advantageous seat guide in a very economical and mechanically simple manner. That is, carrying out the invention, there are provided a pair of guides, each having a downwardly extending flange, and means are provided for securing each of the guides to the underside of a toilet seat, in a manner and location such that the flanges abuttingly engage the toilet bowl to prevent any lateral shifting of the toilet seat. Thus, even though the seat hinge may be quite loose, the guides effectively block any sliding, rotational or lateral movement of the toilet seat, even though no restriction whatever is imposed upon the movement of the toilet seat to raised position.

The above description is somewhat generalized and introductory.

The inventive concepts, and other features and details, are set forth more fully in the following description which further explains and discusses an embodiment which illustrates the inventive concepts, taken in conjunction with the accompanying somewhat schematic drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a toilet assembly, with the toilet seat in raised position, and showing a pair of the inventive seat guides mounted on the underside of the toilet seat;

FIG. 2 is a fragmental top view thereof, the seat lid being in raised position but the toilet seat in lowered position, portions of the seat and hinge components shown as schematically broken away and in section to more clearly illustrate details otherwise relatively concealed;

FIG. 3 is a top view of one of the toilet seat guides shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is a view of an installed seat guide of the illustrative embodiment, it and other toilet parts being shown in cross section, generally as would be viewed in cross section by section lines 44 of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the toilet seat guide of FIG. 4, showing the face thereof which, when the toilet seat is in the lowered or seat-forming position, faces inwardly of the toilet bowl.

As shown in the drawings, a toilet assembly is shown for background purposes, illustrating the use of the seat guides of the present invention; and the toilet assembly includes as general components a bowl 12, a seat 14, a lid 16, and a water tank 18.

A hinge construction, by which the seat 14 and lid 16 are hingedly connected to the toilet bowl 12, is schematically shown by the hinge assembly 20 including a hinge pin or shaft 22 which is supported by laterally spaced mounts 24 supported on the rear of the bowl 12. Hingedly connecting the lid 16 to the hinge pin 22 are a pair of spaced cars 26 of the lid 16; and hingedly connecting the toilet seat 14 to the bowl 12 and hinge pin 22 is a rearward extension 28 of the seat 14, that extension 28 also hingedly embracing the hinge pin 22.

It will, of course, be understood that the hinge means 20 provides for the movement of the lid 16 and seat 14 into and between a raised position (FIG. 1) in which they lie in generally vertical planes, and a lowered position such as the seat 14 is illustrated in FIG. 2. In that lowered or seat-providing position, the toilet seat rests on pads or bumpers 30, mounted on the underside or bottom face 32 of the toilet seat 14, those bumpers 30 resting on the upper wall 34 of the toilet bowl 12.

The hinge means 20 of many toilets occasionally and perhaps often becomes somewhat loose; and perhaps because of the awkward inconveniences of tightening the hinge mounts 22 onto the toilet bowl 12, or perhaps because of the disagreeableness of servicing or providing maintenance on a toilet, or perhaps because of relative difficulty of tightening any looseness of fit of the hinge components, the looseness of the hinge 20 often not only remains uncorrected but becomes increasingly worse. This results in an objectionable lateral sliding or rotational slippage or wobble of the toilet seat 14, in use of the toilet.

According to the present invention, seat guides 10 rigidly support the toilet seat 14 against such sliding or wobble, even though the hinge means 20 may be relatively loose.

The seat guides 10 as shown are generally L-shaped pieces, each having (when assembled onto a toilet seat 14 and the seat 14 is in lowered or seat-forming position) a generally horizontal leg 36 and a generally vertical leg 38.

The horizontal leg 36 is shown in FIG. 4 as somewhat thinner than the thickness of the seat pad 30, providing that the guide leg 36 will not interfere with the operation of the bumper 30 if the user desires to retain the bumper 30. (Alternatively, some users may desire to remove the bumpers 30, permitting the horizontal seat guide leg 36 to serve as such.) The relative thinness of guide portion 36 also is of advantage in installation, as mentioned below.

Affixing means, for holding the seat guide 10 to the underface 32 of the toilet seat 14, are shown as holes 40 provided in the guide leg 36, through which extend screws 42 which are secured to the toilet seat 14. Other suitable means, such as plastic cement, will be desirably used if the seats are plastic.

The location of installation of the seat guides 10 is such that they are relatively far from the hinge means 20, achieving a long leverage sturdiness, although the guides 10 are sufficiently offset from the centerline of the seat 14 that their outwardly facing wall 44 of their guide leg 38 has a definite sideward-facing component.

Moreover, the guides 10 are mounted on the toilet seat 14 in a location such that their said outwardly facing wall 44 will abut the inner wall 46 of the toilet bowl l2, blocking any objectionable sliding movement of the toilet seat 14 even though the hinge components 20 may be loose and would otherwise permit considerable seat wobble.

The guide wall face 44, being desirably slanted slightly inwardly, offers no restriction to the vertical swinging of the seat 14 into and between its raised and lowered positions.

The vertical guide leg 38 is desirably thin enough that no portion thereof protrudes inwardly of the inner edge 48 of the toilet seat; and thus the overall nature of the guides 10 is such that they are so inconspicuous to be effectively unnoticeable.

The initial installation of the seat guides 10 is very easy and convenient. The seat 14 is placed in its lowered or seat-providing position (as in FIG. 2) making sure that the seat 14 is straight with respect to the bowl 12. Then the installer slips the horizontal guide leg 36 into the gap 59 (provided by the thickness or height of the seat pad 30) between the upper face 34 of the toilet bowl l2 and the underface 32 of the toilet seat 14, in a forward location with respect to the bowl l2 and hinge 20 as mentioned above.

Then, holding the guide 10 upwardly so that its horizontal leg 36 lies adjacent the underside face 32 of the seat 14, and holding the guide 10 snug against the bowl 12, that is with the guide face 44 against the bowl face 46, the user marks a reference or locator line onto said seat underface 32, along the corner edge 52 provided at the junction of the upper edge of the outer face 54 of vertical guidewall 38 and the underseat face32 of theseat 14.

The installer then temporarily removes the guide 10, raises the toilet seat 14, and then replaces the guide as indicated by the reference line inscribed as just explained, securing the guide 10 to the toilet seat 14 by the securing means such as the screws 42. Preferably, after one of the screws 42 is installed, the installer will lower the seat 14 to doublecheck the proper position of that guide 10, prior to attaching the other screw 42. r

Thus, the guide 10 will have been easily located exactly at a position and orientation such that it will provide the specified function. Nomeasurements are needed; no difi'lcult installation steps are needed. A similar easy procedure of course assures convenient and proper locating and attachment of the other of the guides 10.

it is thus seen that a toilet seat guide according to the present invention provides a toilet seat locator means which is of simple and economical construction, is easily installed, is durable, is inconspicuous, and is effective in preventing slippage or sliding of the seat; and yet it permits the usual vertical swinging of the toilet seat without restriction. Thus the inventive concepts accomplish their intended objects, including those pointed out and as are inherent in the invention.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. For example, although the two guides 10 are desirably of identical construction, and are shown as located in symmetry to the seat centerline, other forms and locations are of course within the inventive concepts; and although the guides are shown mounted for interior engagement of the bowl, they may be mounted outwardly thereof to engage the outer bowl wall, in oppositely facing position. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered limited to the specific form or arrangements herein described and shown.

What is claimed is:

l. A position guide means for conventional ring-shaped and U-shaped toilet seats, which permits and accommodates the vertical swinging of the toilet seat into and between positions which are relatively raised or vertical and relatively horizontal or lowered with respect to the associated toilet bowl, but which locates the said seat, in said lowered seat position, with respect to the said bowl and prevents the seat from sliding laterally with respect to the said bowl while the seat is in said lowered position;

said guide means including a pair of guides, each of said guides comprising:

a downwardly extending abutment means lying along the inner wall of said bowl and abuttingly engaging said bowl inner wall, when said seat is in said lowered position, if force be applied to said toilet seat in a direction which would tend to cause said seat to slide in a lateral direction toward said inner wall of said toilet bowl;

each said guide also being provided withmounting means by which it may be secured to said toilet seat;

the said guides being located on said toilet seat remote from the axis of upward swinging of the said seat with respect to the said bowl and being located on opposite sides of the fore-and-aft centerline of said seat.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in a combination in which each of said guides is of a general L-shape in traverse cross section, one leg providing a generally horizontal leg adapted to underlie the toilet seat and be secured thereto, and the other leg of which provides said abutment means.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in a combination in which each said guide is disposed wholly beneath the said seat within the projected lateral limits thereof and isthus operatively concealed by said seat while said seat is in lowered position.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in a combination in which each said guide has a securing means adapted to be inserted in an outward motion relative to the toilet bowl into the gap as provided by the associated seat bumper between the toilet seat and the toilet bowl, said securing means being adapted to be secured to said toilet seat.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in a combination in which each said guide has a securing means wholly disposed between the vertical limits of the gap as provided by the associated seat bumperbetween the toilet seat and the toilet bowl, said securing means being adapted to be secured to said toilet seat.

6.- The invention as set forth in claim 1 in a combination in which the said abutment means of each guide is such that, in installation of the guide, the abutment means may be manually held against the inner wall of the toilet bowl, and the position of said guide while being so held will be the same position of the said guide which will thereafter provide the said abutting function, thus enabling installation to be conveniently attained without any measuring operation or procedure.

7. A position guide means for conventional ring-shaped and U-shaped toilet seats, which permits and accommodates the vertical swinging of the toilet seat into and between positions which are relatively raised or vertical and relatively horizontal or lowered with respect to the associated toilet bowl, but

which locates the said seat, in said lowered seat position, with respect to the said bowl and prevents the seat from sliding laterally with respect to the said bowl while the seat is in said lowered position;

said guide means including a pair of guides, each of said guides comprising: an abutment means abuttingly engaging said bowl if force be applied to said toilet seat in a direction which would tend to cause said seat to slide in a lateral direction with respect to said toilet bowl;

each said guide also being provided with mounting means by which it may be secured to said toilet seat;

the said guides being located on said toilet seat remote from the axis of upward swinging of the said seat with respect to the said bowl and being located on opposite sides of the fore-and-aft centerline of said seat.

8. The invention as set forth in claim 7 in a combination in which the said abutment means engages the outer wall of said bowl, in oppositely facing position.

9. The invention as set forth in claim 7 in a combination in which the two guides are of identical form, making it immaterial which particular one is used on any certain side of the seat centerline which extends perpendicularly from the axis of seat-swinging with respect to the bowls.

' 10. The invention as set forth in claim 7 in a combination in which the two guides are mounted in symmetrical positions with respect to the seat centerline which extends perpendicularly from the axis of seat-swinging with respect to the bowls. 

1. A position guide means for conventional ring-shaped and Ushaped toilet seats, which permits and accommodates the vertical swinging of the toilet seat into and between positions which are relatively raised or vertical and relatively horizontal or lowered with respect to the associated toilet bowl, but which locates the said seat, in said lowered seat position, with respect to the said bowl and prevents the seat from sliding laterally with respect to the said bowl while the seat is in said lowered position; said guide means including a pair of guides, each of said guides comprising: a downwardly extending abutment means lying along the inner wall of Said bowl and abuttingly engaging said bowl inner wall, when said seat is in said lowered position, if force be applied to said toilet seat in a direction which would tend to cause said seat to slide in a lateral direction toward said inner wall of said toilet bowl; each said guide also being provided with mounting means by which it may be secured to said toilet seat; the said guides being located on said toilet seat remote from the axis of upward swinging of the said seat with respect to the said bowl and being located on opposite sides of the foreand-aft centerline of said seat.
 2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in a combination in which each of said guides is of a general L-shape in traverse cross section, one leg providing a generally horizontal leg adapted to underlie the toilet seat and be secured thereto, and the other leg of which provides said abutment means.
 3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in a combination in which each said guide is disposed wholly beneath the said seat within the projected lateral limits thereof and is thus operatively concealed by said seat while said seat is in lowered position.
 4. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in a combination in which each said guide has a securing means adapted to be inserted in an outward motion relative to the toilet bowl into the gap as provided by the associated seat bumper between the toilet seat and the toilet bowl, said securing means being adapted to be secured to said toilet seat.
 5. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in a combination in which each said guide has a securing means wholly disposed between the vertical limits of the gap as provided by the associated seat bumper between the toilet seat and the toilet bowl, said securing means being adapted to be secured to said toilet seat.
 6. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in a combination in which the said abutment means of each guide is such that, in installation of the guide, the abutment means may be manually held against the inner wall of the toilet bowl, and the position of said guide while being so held will be the same position of the said guide which will thereafter provide the said abutting function, thus enabling installation to be conveniently attained without any measuring operation or procedure.
 7. A position guide means for conventional ring-shaped and U-shaped toilet seats, which permits and accommodates the vertical swinging of the toilet seat into and between positions which are relatively raised or vertical and relatively horizontal or lowered with respect to the associated toilet bowl, but which locates the said seat, in said lowered seat position, with respect to the said bowl and prevents the seat from sliding laterally with respect to the said bowl while the seat is in said lowered position; said guide means including a pair of guides, each of said guides comprising: an abutment means abuttingly engaging said bowl if force be applied to said toilet seat in a direction which would tend to cause said seat to slide in a lateral direction with respect to said toilet bowl; each said guide also being provided with mounting means by which it may be secured to said toilet seat; the said guides being located on said toilet seat remote from the axis of upward swinging of the said seat with respect to the said bowl and being located on opposite sides of the fore-and-aft centerline of said seat.
 8. The invention as set forth in claim 7 in a combination in which the said abutment means engages the outer wall of said bowl, in oppositely facing position.
 9. The invention as set forth in claim 7 in a combination in which the two guides are of identical form, making it immaterial which particular one is used on any certain side of the seat centerline which extends perpendicularly from the axis of seat-swinging with respect to the bowls.
 10. The invention as set forth in claim 7 in a combination in which the two guides are mounted in symmetrical posItions with respect to the seat centerline which extends perpendicularly from the axis of seat-swinging with respect to the bowls. 